Foreign Office Issues Critical Greece Travel Advisory Following Deadly Storm
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has released urgent travel advice for Greece and its islands after a man tragically lost his life amid the chaos unleashed by Storm Erminio. The severe weather system has swept across the European Union holiday hotspot, unleashing devastating flooding and powerful winds reaching speeds of up to 70 miles per hour.
First Fatality Confirmed in Attica Amid Orange and Red Warnings
As orange and red weather warnings blanketed the region, the storm claimed its first victim in the town of Nea Makri, located in the Attica region. The deceased, a 54-year-old man originally from Poland, attempted to escape his flooded basement on Megalou Alexandrou Street. Tragically, he slipped and was swept away by the forceful torrents rushing down his street.
A neighbor who discovered the man described the scene as utter "chaos". "The water was coming in with force. Suddenly I see something under the wheels, I mistook it for a dog," the resident recounted. "We were in danger, we didn’t sleep all night [...] it was wedged under the wheel." The resident further noted that at the location where the man perished, three vehicles had also been carried away by the overwhelming force of the floodwaters.
Foreign Office Guidance: Enable Emergency Alerts on Mobile Phones
On its official website, the FCDO explicitly warns travelers: "Greece can experience extreme natural phenomena such as earthquakes, wildfires, extreme heat and flash floods." To ensure safety, the Foreign Office strongly advises all visitors to activate emergency alert notifications on their mobile devices while in Greece.
The step-by-step instructions are as follows:
- For iPhone users: Navigate to Settings > Notifications and enable the 'Emergency Alerts' option located at the bottom.
- For Android 11 and higher: Go to Settings > Notifications > Advanced Settings > Wireless Emergency Alerts.
- For Samsung devices: Access Settings > Apps > Messages > Notifications > Emergency Notifications and turn on the 'Emergency Alerts' option.
The FCDO emphasizes: "This will allow the Greek government’s Emergency Communication Service alerts to reach you. Always keep your phone with you as you will receive alerts according to the location of your phone."
Widespread Devastation Across Holiday Islands
The storm's impact has been severe and widespread. Social media images depict an eerie orange hue enveloping Crete, with other popular holiday islands also suffering significant effects. On Wednesday, April 1, African dust carried by the storm engulfed the holiday region, casting a stark red light across the landscape.
Additionally, numerous videos have emerged showing cars half-submerged by torrential flooding in streets throughout the country. In Poros, roads transformed into raging rivers, with vehicles seen floating past in muddy, fast-moving torrents, illustrating the scale of the disruption and danger posed by Storm Erminio.
